Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Who Pulls Our Strings?

My wife produces a monthly newsletter for one of my companies. She included a quote in the January, 2009 edition that in recent years has been credited to Mark Twain but which I personally don't recall ever reading in one of his books. It doesn't matter who actually said it or wrote it, it certainly is pertinent today: "Sometimes I wonder whether the world is run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it."

I can answer the question: Both.

I can also tell you that it doesn't really matter. Either way we are getting what we deserve for putting up with these idiots, for believing their pious proclamations and electing (and reelecting) them to office.

2009 is going to be an interesting year. I have always been an optimistic, glass half-full sort of person. That hasn't changed. Whatever happens, the human race will survive. We're tough. We're resilient. We just don't always have the best judgment when it comes to understanding what is best for us. What is best for us is individual responsibility, limited government, and goodwill towards our fellow man. What we have instead is passing the buck, government run amok, and hatred for anyone who looks, acts or thinks differently from ourselves.

I wish for everyone who drops in at this blog from time to time the very best for 2009 -- good health, a sense of humour about the world around us, and what matters more than anything else: the love and support of family and friends.

Happy New Year!

12 comments:

  1. The foundational principle of Libertarianism remains sound: You can't trust anyone who wants absolute power over you. It's that simple.
    I really wish we could "all just get along", but freedom includes the freedom to disagree. This knocks political correctness (the FOOL-osophy that you should never say or do anything that offends anyone, and it should also be made illegal) into a cocked hat.
    As you have noted in different words, perhaps the greatest thing about human beings is their ability to survive the consequences of their own stupidity...Amen to that!

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  2. I think that it is more productive to be positive; as in 'on it's way to being a little more than half full'.

    I believe that we have taught the politicians to treat us the way they do by allowing them to get away with all their crap. It's been a long time since we've had a "Boston Tea Party".

    Wishing you and your family a
    HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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  3. Right as usual, Ted. And luckyzmom -- I love the idea of another Boston Tea Party. I wonder if the politicians can swim? Maybe they could all be tossed into the harbour along with the symbolic tea.

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  4. I love that bumper sticker that shows the Grim Reaper on the left side of it, and is emblazoned with the words "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."

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  5. I can do without that 'help.' The price of this sort of help is slavery and I'm not predisposed to be one.

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  6. Thanks, motherpie. Keep up those great postings of yours. I caught up a bit on your blog yesterday and it is nice to have you pull all these disparate things together and create context for us all. We live in a fascinating world and I love the way you comment on humans and their foibles.

    And a Happy New year to you too!

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  7. I cannot discuss the election of Obama; it is so very scary, I'm spending most of my time on my knees.

    All I can say is, "When have the masses ever been right?"

    Thinking of you, and Happy Late New Year.

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  8. We are in an era that will be looked back on in future decades as the "WTF were they thinking" time. Things are being done that will have long-lasting and liberty-encroaching consequences and the results may serve as the perfect text book examples of unintended consequences.

    Thanks, Bellezza, I wish you and yours the very best!

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  9. Simple:
    On 20JAN09, turn your calendar back to 1972: What's old is what's new, just more of the same.
    Churchill said "The past is the key to our future". This is because times and politricksters change, but human nature for the largest part, does not.

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  10. I doubt that quote came from Mark Twain. The part that catches my eye is "putting us on." That phrase didn't come into the American language until long after Clemens had died.
    As for The O, I am finding it very difficult to listen to anything a man who appears on a loud obnoxious talk while filling the most dignified and powerful position in the world, as a reality stand. Perhaps we could send in the clowns to save us.

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  11. I agree. The quote seems much more current. Now . . . "Send in the clowns" sounds like a good line in a song and it certainly couldn't get any worse than it is at present.

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